Former OSU director didn't violate ethics rules, commission says

Many readers have asked in a response to a
story we did
Monday if
Ohio State's former parking director violated
state ethics rules when she joined the private company that assumed management of the
university's parking operation in late September under a 50-year lease agreement.

The answer is no, according to Paul Nick, executive director of the Ohio Ethics Commission. He
said Sarah Blouch asked the Ethics Commission in August if there would be a conflict of
interest if she accepted a position as president of
CampusParc. Lawyers for
CampusParc also inquired, which prompted the Ethics Commission to review the matter.

In early September, the Ethics Commission issued a private opinion letter saying it was OK for
Blouch to move to the private company because she was not involved in the decision to privatize the
system, did not participate in the negotiations with CampusParc and did not approve or sign the
contract. The commission also noted that Blouch was assigned to assist with the transition
team by her supervisor and that the project was clearly part of her public duties and
responsibilities as director -- and employment with CampusParc would not improperly influence
her.

Because of an exception in ethics law, Blouch is also not prohibited from representing
CampusParc before Ohio State or any other public agency on matters dealing with the management of
the parking operation in which she had personally participated as an OSU employee, the
commission said in its letter.

The state has a clear "revolving-door" rule that prohibits public employees
from certain engagement with their former public employers on behalf of a vendor for
one year. But the law allows for an exception because Blouch is essentially doing
the same job she did for OSU for CampusParc, as long as it assists the university. She would be
prohibited from representing CampusParc before OSU or any other public agency on matters she worked
on at OSU if OSU and CampusParc don't agree. If such a situation was to arise in the first year of
Blouch's employment, CampusParc would have to have another employee handle the matter, the letter
says.

Blouch is also restricted from ever sharing any confidential information she learned as an
OSU employee with CampusParc.

I suspect ethics issued a private opinion letter - that said it was okay.

In the Ohio ethics laws, a public official may not recommend or approve a public contract
that they have a financial interest. There is also a clear revolving door
rule prohibiting certain engagement with your former public employer on behalf of a
vendor for one year. The question here is probably one of timing. Can
you help review and recommend approval of a contract that will
ultimately result in you becoming the president of the winning vendor sixty days after
the contract award?

I suspect ethics issued a private opinion letter - that said it was okay. But, I would be
curious, as I am sure other readers would, in understanding their reasoning.